expensive power cables

[Ronnie D]

, I've been hearing a clicking noise whenever I turn another device on or off.

Would that not be the relay in the vibelink amp you are hearing?

 

[HansD-NL]

I simply can't imagine that the included power cable is of good quality; WIIM has to cut corners somewhere. Why did I even ask this question? Nothing has changed in my electrical system; the protected power distributor is plugged directly into the wall. Ever since I started using the two WIIMs, I've been hearing a clicking noise whenever I turn another device on or off.

How this price came about overall is still suspect to me anyway. So far, I can't find anything to complain about; the phono amplifier is also good in my opinion.

Thank you for all your feedback, musical greetings from Vienna

"I simply can't imagine that the included power cable is of good quality" --> That is purely your belief/imagination and experts cannot say anything that will convince you otherwise. The clicking noises you mention (coming from connected speakers?) will need further examination though, not easy to point out not knowing the situation.

 

[HansD-NL]

One thing to add is that any cable that transports (mains) power will radiate a (magnetic) field around it and it's good practice to not run power cables parallel to small signal cables if these signal cables are of unbalanced type.

 

[lostinmusic]

I wonder if attaching an audiophile power cord to my kettle will make my tea taste better.

 

[Smartplug]

What’s surprising is that they buy affordable hifi and thinking about upgrading cable and such because they are not satisfied on the results. Just about anything life and for most part performance comes in price point.

 

[Smartplug]

I wonder if attaching an audiophile power cord to my kettle will make my tea taste better.

Or using rubber garden hose will taste more rubbery flavor.

 

[HansD-NL]

I wonder if attaching an audiophile power cord to my kettle will make my tea taste better.

If you imagine/believe that it will. It will.

 

[HansD-NL]

Or using rubber garden hose will taste more rubbery flavor.

It certainly will. A garden hose is not food grade and a hose that is will taste like......the taste of water. If it's not transporting any other beverage of course.

 

[azoriusmage]

Please lets not have another Snake Oil vs Science thread

 

[onlyoneme]

@onlyoneme was going to do some testing on shielded power cables. I don't know if he ever got around to it.

O

Post in thread 'Let's update power cable with something shielded'

Oct 13, 2024

Yes. Have been reading about this audiophile power cord myth for more than 40 years.

Attached an example of the power connector for a $500 pre-amp and a $100 external power cable. If it did matter why then just these cheap wires in the amp?

Hmmm... Because the chassis provides the appropriate shielding?

• onlyoneme

• 

Yeah, one of many cases I wanted to address but haven't even properly started...

 

[maximilianXI]

Thank you very much, especially for the many really useful answers.

 

[Ronnie D]

many really useful answers

So, out of curiosity, is the clicking noise coming from the vibelink?

 

[Jamiewednesday]

I have found that changing the power cable can sometimes make absolutely p-all difference, my TT for instance reveals no differences at all with differing power leads. Zilch.

However, when I put one of the Audioquest NRG figure 8 cables on the Ultra, it absolutely did sound different, better.

This may be reflecting the difference in internals of several grand’s worth of TT/phono stage and something built to a smaller budget cap.

 

[mpr]

I wonder if attaching an audiophile power cord to my kettle will make my tea taste better.

It will certainly bring out the musical notes in your chamomile

 

[jazzophile]

Does not make any sense. It's all a scam. If it was possible to have "better & cleaner" power using these cables, every hospital, laboratory, data-centre, music studio etc would be using them.

No one here suggested better or cleaner power with cables alone. That said, I’ve worked in 3 of the 4 work settings you mention (not music studio), and they all have strict requirements for power supply and data cabling. Specialized sensitive equipment may even require power filtration/conditioning and/or dedicated lines, such as mass spectrometers and hematology analyzers, or in the case of data centers you’d have data servers and networking gear. What does this mean for audio?… well, “your wallet and your ears” is my philosophy. Do what you will and enjoy. No need to attack people here.

 

[Pragmatist]

Another old one, I know. But it remains funny. At least for me

 

[tabata]

I have found that changing the power cable can sometimes make absolutely p-all difference, my TT for instance reveals no differences at all with differing power leads. Zilch.

However, when I put one of the Audioquest NRG figure 8 cables on the Ultra, it absolutely did sound different, better.

This may be reflecting the difference in internals of several grand’s worth of TT/phono stage and something built to a smaller budget cap.

The power comes from the utility provider on the cheapest metal that’ll do the job, routes to a transformer on your block, again the cheapest that’ll do the job, then into your home breaker box and wiring which the builder absolutely used the cheapest that’ll do the job, then the cheap receptacle outlet, then the power is magically transformed by the Audioquest snake oil power cable, then into the WiiM’s power supply and all other circuitry, and you think you can hear the difference in few feet of Audioquest cable being present versus the power cable that WiiM tested and supplied with their own product?

 

[onlyoneme]

I think that only shielding can bring any benefits.

 

[HansD-NL]

No one here suggested better or cleaner power with cables alone. That said, I’ve worked in 3 of the 4 work settings you mention (not music studio), and they all have strict requirements for power supply and data cabling. Specialized sensitive equipment may even require power filtration/conditioning and/or dedicated lines, such as mass spectrometers and hematology analyzers, or in the case of data centers you’d have data servers and networking gear. What does this mean for audio?… well, “your wallet and your ears” is my philosophy. Do what you will and enjoy. No need to attack people here.

"No one here suggested better or cleaner power with cables alone" --> That was indeed suggested. What else could it be.
"......and they all have strict requirements for power supply and data cabling --> The cabling has to do what is needed, nothing fancy.
"Specialized sensitive equipment may even require power filtration/conditioning and/or dedicated lines" --> In some cases, Sure.
"No need to attack people here" --> If you want to use the term attack, i'm "attacking" the idea, the cult, the never ending scams.
There are loads op people with not so heavy wallets that are scammed into buying al kinds of snake-oil products they can't really afford and do nothing for them. I'm "fighting" for them.

 

[Pragmatist]

.